Actuator

ABSTRACT

A valve actuator assembly having an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and a housing lid. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned within the actuator housing and directly coupled to the bonnet. A piston is positioned within the hydraulic cylinder and coupled to a spring lifter assembly and a spring is positioned within the actuator housing and having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a lower surface of the housing lid, and the second end being coupled to the spring lifter assembly. An operating stem is coupled to the piston and positioned in a channel extending through the bonnet to a valve body assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of provisionalapplications 61/878,838 filed on Sep. 17, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to actuators and, in aparticular embodiment, to an apparatus and method for an improvedactuator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Actuators are well known in the art to control fluid within valveassemblies. Specially, Actuators are used to control gate valves andother sliding stem-type valves by selectively moving a stem to insert orremove the valve member into/from the flow of fluid to stop or allow theflow when desired. There is a need for an actuator that is more reliableand more efficient during operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a valve actuatorassembly having an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and an housinglid and a hydraulic cylinder positioned within the actuator housing andthreadingly and/or bolted to the bonnet. A piston is positioned withinthe hydraulic cylinder and coupled to a spring lifter assembly. A springis positioned within the actuator housing having a first end and asecond end, the first end may be coupled to a lower surface of thehousing lid, and the second end being may be coupled to the springlifter assembly. An operating stem is coupled to the piston andpositioned in a channel extending through the bonnet to a valve bodyassembly.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a valveactuator having an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and a housinglid. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned within the actuator housing andcoupled to the bonnet and a piston is positioned within the hydrauliccylinder and coupled to a spring lifter assembly. A spring is positionedwithin the actuator housing and is provided with a first end and asecond end, the first end being coupled to a lower surface of thehousing lid, and the second end being coupled to the spring lifterassembly. An operating stem is coupled to the piston and positioned in achannel extending through the bonnet to a valve body assembly connectingto the gate. An internal pressure compensator is positioned within theactuator housing and adjacent to the lower surface of the housing lid,the internal pressure compensator having an internal piston, an outersleeve and an inner sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an improved actuator and valveassembly;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed cross-sectional view of the improved actuatorof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view of the improved actuator of FIGS.1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of an actuator assembly.

FIG. 5 is another view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 4.

While the present invention will be described in connection withpresently preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is notintended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary,it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalentsincluded within the spirit of the invention and as defined in theappended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a hydraulic actuator in accordance with one aspectof the invention. FIG. 1 more specifically shows the hydraulic actuator10 coupled to a gate valve assembly 12. The gate valve assembly 12includes a valve body 14, gate valve 16, and a seat assembly 18. Thegate 16 is configured so that it can be moved between an open positionand a closed position to control the fluid flow through the passageway20.

The actuator 10 is coupled to the bonnet 22 through bolts 24, 26 whichmay be removable. It should be noted that although bolts areillustrated, any other type of fastening mechanism may be used to securethe bonnet 22 to the actuator 10. The bonnet 20 is also coupled to thevalve body assembly through bolts 28, 30.

The actuator 10 includes a housing 32 that encapsulates a spring 34, acylinder 36, a spring lifter assembly 38, and a piston 40 coupled to anoperating stem 42. There is also provided a pressure compensator 44,which can be positioned as shown in FIGS. 1-3 external to the actuatorhousing or positioned within the actuator housing as shown in FIGS. 4and 5. Specifically, in the actuator assembly of FIGS. 1-3, the pressurecompensator 44 is coupled to an exterior wall of the actuator housing 32which is used to equalize the pressure inside the actuator housing tothe outside seawater pressure. The pressure compensation will bediscussed in greater detail below.

In operation, the piston 40 within the actuator housing 32 is movedupward or downward between a first position and second position which inturn moves the operating stem 42 so that the gate valve 16 can bepositioned within the passageway 20 in the valve body 14. It should benoted that the upward position can be either an open or closed positionof the valve depending on the construction of the gate valve.

Now turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the internal components of the actuator 10will be discussed in greater detail. The actuator 10 includes housing 32that is coupled to the bonnet 22 at a first end and a monolithic housinglid 46 at a second end. Within the housing 32 is the hydraulic cylinder36 that is threadably attached to the bonnet 22. The piston 40 ispositioned within the hydraulic cylinder 36 at the first end of theactuator housing 32 adjacent to the bonnet 22 and is coupled to theoperating stem 36. The piston 40 is also coupled to or in direct contactwith the spring lifter assembly 38 which is coupled to the spring 34.The spring lifter assembly 38 is configured so that a first portion isin contact with the piston 40 and a second portion is in contact withthe spring 34. The spring lifter assembly 38 includes a spring lifter 48coupled to the piston 40 at one end and the spring at the other end. Thespring 34 is positioned between the actuator housing 32 and the springlifter assembly 38 and adjacent to the lower portion of the housing lid46. As hydraulic pressure fluids are applied into the cylinder via ahydraulic port 50, the spring lifter assembly 38 is operated as to themove the piston 40 up and down within the hydraulic cylinder 36.

Now turning to another embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 4 and5 illustrate an actuator assembly 60 having an internal pressurecompensator. The actuator 60 is provided with an actuator housing 62that is coupled to a bonnet 64 and a housing lid 66 by bolts 70.Although bolts 70 are used is this particular embodiment, it should benoted any type of mechanical mechanism to attach the lid 66 and thebonnet 64 to the housing 62 may be used.

Within the actuator housing 62, there is provided a hydraulic cylinder72 which is coupled to the bonnet 64 by bolts 74. A piston 76 ispositioned within the hydraulic cylinder 72 and coupled to spring lifterassembly 78. The spring 80 is positioned so that at one end, it iscoupled to the inner surface of the housing lid 66 and the other end itis in contact with the flange portions 82 of the spring lifter assembly78.

The hydraulic cylinder 72 may be threadably coupled to the bonnet orbolted (Shown) to the bonnet 64 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thepiston 76 which is positioned within the hydraulic cylinder 72 iscoupled to the spring lifter assembly 78 and an operating stem 84 thatextends through the bonnet 64 into the valve assembly 86. Thepositioning of the hydraulic cylinder 72 adjacent to the bonnet 64provides the advantage of reducing the height of the actuator andreduces the operating stem length, thereby allowing for a more rigidconstruct.

A hydraulic control port 88 and hydraulic assist port may be drilledallowing passage into the hydraulic cylinder 72. The control port 88provides the connection to the external hydraulic control line used toeither open or close the gate valve. The actuator 60 may be configuredto either automatically open or close upon failure of the hydraulicsystem depending on the valve design.

The hydraulic cylinder 72 is sealed to contain the hydraulic fluid.Specifically, these seals are provided between the piston 76 and thehydraulic cylinder 72 and between the operating stem 84 and the bonnet64, so that the hydraulic fluid is isolated from the other areas of theactuator housing 62. In the preferred embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder72 contains all the hydraulic fluid, as a result, the spring 80 iscompletely isolated from the hydraulic fluid.

A packing gland 90 is also positioned to provide additional primaryseals to seal around the operating stem 84 and bonnet 64. The packinggland 90 may be threadably attached to the bonnet 64. The packing gland90 provides additional support for packings and primary seals to sealaround the operating stem 84 and any extensions to the operating stem84. In the particular embodiment, the packing gland 90 is threadablyattached to the bonnet 64. The packing gland 90 is sealed with respectto the bonnet 64 by any conforming type of seal. There is also provideda relief valve between the packing and packing gland seal, if leakageshould occur. The relief valve is a one-way valve that will open if theinternal pressure at relief valve is greater than the hydrostaticpressure external to the actuator thereby relieving pressure before thepressure becomes great enough to leak past any adjacent seals providingsafety for the actuator.

The actuator 60 also includes an internal compensator assembly which isconfigured to be positioned within a recess 92 of the actuator lid 66.The compensator assembly is used to maintain a constant equilibriumpressure between the spring housing and the sea water.

The compensator assembly includes a compensator piston 94 that is freefloating and inner and outer sleeve guides 96, 98. As the actuator 60 isdescended to depth, water pressure acts on the piston 94 through port100 and equalizes the pressure applied when piston 76 is moved upwardsand displaces the fluid within the compensator assembly towards thecompensator piston 94. The compensator piston 94 is free floating and isguided by the inner sleeve guide 96 and the outer sleeve guide 98. Inoperation, as hydraulic fluid which is contained within the cylinder 72is used to actuate the cylinder piston 76 to move the operating stem 84,the internal compensator piston 94 equalizes the pressure between thesea water external to the actuator and the fluid pressure within theactuator housing/spring housing assembly. This feature provides anautomatic internal pressure compensator and enables the pressure withinthe actuator to be compensated from the external pressure applied by thewater depth.

During operation of the actuator to move the gate valve 102, hydraulicfluid is introduced through the control port 88 to pressurize thehydraulic piston to move in a first direction, the hydraulic piston 76is moved in the first direction, it also moves the operating stem 84which in turn moves the valve gate 102. This motion also moves thespring lifter assembly 78 in a first direction to compress the spring 80via the spring lifter flanges 82. To move the valve gate 102 in a seconddirection, the hydraulic pressure is released from the control port 88.The spring moves 80 the operating stem 84 and hydraulic piston 76 in thesecond direction thereby moving the gate valve in the second direction.As the gate valve 102 is moved in the either first or second direction,the internal pressure compensator equalizes the pressure continuouslybetween the seawater pressure and the fluid pressure within theactuator/spring housing assembly.

The advantages provided by the features illustrated in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-5 include no drag by the spring since the spring is positionedwithin a recess at the bottom of the lid. Also, the piston is positionedat the first end of the housing, allowing for a more rigid construction,causing less or no vibration of the system during operation. Anotheradvantage of the actuator systems is that since the cylinder isthreadably attached or bolted directly to the bonnet, concentricity ofthe central channel is maintained so that there is no metal to metaldrag and no friction. Also, the present assembly provides an absence ofdrag on seals or the operating stem, and generally less frictionalresistance within the components of the assembly. Finally, coupling thehydraulic cylinder directly to the bonnet, allows for the operating stemto be shorter so that the stem is more rigid and no galling occursduring operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the disclosed systems andprocesses without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Otherexamples of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the artfrom consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosuredisclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples beconsidered as exemplary only.

We claim:
 1. A valve actuator assembly comprising: an actuator housingcoupled to a bonnet and an housing lid; a hydraulic cylinder positionedwithin the actuator housing and threadingly coupled to the bonnet; apiston positioned within the hydraulic cylinder and coupled to a springlifter assembly, a spring positioned within the actuator housing andhaving a first end and a second end, the first end being in contact witha lower surface of the housing lid, and the second end configured to bein contact to the spring lifter assembly; and an operating stem coupledto the piston and positioned in a channel extending through the bonnetto a valve body assembly.
 2. The valve actuator assembly of claim 1,wherein the actuator assembly further comprises a pressure compensatorpositioned externally and adjacent to the actuator housing.
 3. The valveactuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the operating stem is coupled to agate.
 4. The valve actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein a strokeadjustment is positioned on the upper surface of the housing lid.
 5. Thevalve actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein a packing gland ispositioned between the operating stem and the bonnet.
 6. The valveactuator assembly of claim 5, wherein the packing gland is threadablyengaged with the bonnet.
 7. The valve actuator assembly of claim 1,wherein a pressure compensator is positioned inside the actuatorhousing.
 8. The valve actuator assembly of claim 7, wherein the pressurecompensator is positioned within a recess of the housing lid.
 9. Thevalve actuator assembly of claim 7, wherein the pressure compensatorincludes a free-floating piston, an outer sleeve guide and an innersleeve guide.
 10. The valve actuator assembly of claim 9, wherein thefree-floating piston travels from a first position to a second positionbased on the pressure differential between fluid contained within springassembly housing and external water pressure.
 11. A valve actuatorassembly comprising: an actuator housing coupled to a bonnet and anhousing lid; a hydraulic cylinder positioned within the actuator housingand directly coupled to the bonnet; a piston positioned within thehydraulic cylinder and coupled to a spring lifter assembly, a springpositioned within the actuator housing and having a first end and asecond end, the first end being in contact to a lower surface of thehousing lid, and the second end being in contact with the spring lifterassembly; an operating stem coupled to the piston and positioned in achannel extending through the bonnet to a valve body assembly; and aninternal pressure compensator positioned within the actuator housing andadjacent to the lower surface of the housing lid, the internal pressurecompensator having an internal piston, an outer sleeve and an innersleeve.
 12. The valve actuator assembly of claim 11, wherein theoperating stem is coupled to a gate.
 13. The valve actuator assembly ofclaim 11, wherein a stroke adjustment is positioned on the upper surfaceof the housing lid.
 14. The valve actuator assembly of claim 11, whereina packing gland is positioned between the operating stem and the bonnet.15. The valve actuator assembly of claim 14, wherein the packing glandis threadably engaged with the bonnet.
 16. The valve actuator assemblyof claim 11, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is threadably engaged to theupper surface of the bonnet.
 17. The valve actuator assembly of claim11, wherein the internal piston of the pressure compensator isfree-floating.
 18. A valve actuator assembly comprising: an actuatorhousing coupled to a bonnet and an housing lid; a hydraulic cylinderpositioned within the actuator housing and coupled to the bonnet; apiston positioned within the hydraulic cylinder and coupled to a springlifter assembly, a spring positioned within the actuator housing andhaving a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to alower surface of the housing lid, and the second end being coupled tothe spring lifter assembly; an operating stem coupled to the piston andpositioned in a channel extending through the bonnet to a valve bodyassembly; an an internal pressure compensator positioned within theactuator housing and adjacent to the lower surface of the housing lid,the internal pressure compensator having an internal piston, an outersleeve and an inner sleeve, wherein the internal piston is moved toequalize pressure between sea water and fluid contained within thespring housing.
 19. The valve actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein thehydraulic cylinder is threaded into the upper surface of the bonnet. 20.The valve actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein the operating stem iscoupled to gate.